Preventing pandemics by learning about and from our community

Professor, Department of Biochemistry, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Science, University at Buffalo

In April 2020, we established a SARS-CoV-2 whole-genome sequencing hub in Erie County, developing a sequencing and bioinformatic pipeline for genomic surveillance sequencing of SARS-CoV-2 in WNY. We developed partnerships with the Erie County Department of Health, Erie County Medical Center, Kaleida Health, Catholic Health, and KSL Diagnostics to sequence all positive COVID-19 test samples. As members of the NYS SARS-CoV-2 Whole-Genome Sequencing consortium, we continue to sequence SARS-CoV-2 from patient and wastewater samples. Learning the lessons of the COVID-19 pandemic will allow us to prepare for future outbreaks and other potential pandemics. We are building an early warning system for infectious diseases through robust methods to detect pathogens within our environment and our population. We have a strong interdisciplinary team to develop methods to understand patterns of viral infections, monitor the environment for early signs of concern, and predict the next pandemic. But detection is only the first step. It won’t matter how good our early warning system is if when we do issue warnings, the community doesn’t respond. We must also coordinate and integrate siloed information from a wide range of stakeholders, including the community, so that the risk data can be translated into verifiable and actionable strategies that inform public health decisions and involve the broader community in a meaningful way. This requires true partnership and trust among researchers, public health officials, government, and, perhaps most importantly, the general public. We are actively engaging with members of diverse community groups with goals to promote community resilience and support a community-wide proactive pandemic response.

Jennifer A. Surtees is a professor in the Department of Biochemistry at the University at Buffalo. Her research focuses on the general problem of maintaining genome stability. In April 2020, she established a SARS-CoV-2 whole genome sequencing hub in Erie County. The hub performs genomic surveillance sequencing of SARS-CoV-2 in Erie County and Western New York. Recently, the hub is part of the NYS whole genome sequencing consortium, performing SARS-CoV-2 sequencing from wastewater samples collected across the state of New York. Dr. Surtees is the PI of an NSF Predictive Intelligence in Pandemic Prevention (PIPP) planning grant. The research team consists of researchers from across the University with a goal of comprehensive microbial and human ecosystem monitoring, modeling, communication, and disease mitigation. Dr. Surtees is also a co-founder and currently serves as co-director of UB’s Community of Excellence: Genome, Environment and Microbiome (GEM)